Friday, 30 December 2016

Yes, we've managed Christmas and have now entered the 'winterval' before New Year.

I hope you had a lovely time with family and friends or perhaps you just had a peaceful relaxing holiday, whatever I hope you enjoyed it.

(Muffin waking up and checking if Santa had been)

Our clan met up once again and had a few 'fantabulously' hectic days together ticking all of the boxes.

Exchanging gifts, toasting absent friends, eating beautifully cooked food (okay, I'm not sure I should say that with being the sous chef but I have so there you go), post Christmas lunch woodland walks through the Welsh countryside, to name but a few of the activities, and finally the long homeward bound drive before the New Year kicks in.

It's great to go away, but so good to be home once again.

I think I may have actually been glued into my chair yesterday, right next to the wood burner... snoozing the day away.

I know I'm totally guilty, but I have no shame... I enjoyed it!

(and Muffin did too)

Now I'm in the precarious predicament of having so much to do, but not knowing where to start.

So I've decided that I'm not even going to try.

I'm giving myself time out until at least next Monday.
There's no end to my shameless inactivity.

I'm hoping that this current lacklustre will to recharge my batteries and I'll be raring to go once again.

Before I leave you today, I have a confession.
It's only a little one, but I will feel better starting the new year with a clean sheet.

I never thought I'd use a puppy pouch or a pooch pouch as we are now calling the doggy backpack... but I do now and I'm singing it's praises.

Obviously with Muffy only being a mini shihtzu and weighing in at a reasonable 4.6 kilo's, it's no problem... but I can't imagine I'd like to carry a larger breed of dog.

The pouch was my nephews dog Woody, but he willingly gave it to Muffy.
Hero of the day.

Woody is so full of energy now that he's grown, that to even try to put him in a pouch would be a major achievement... even if he could fit into it.

I was tired just watching him run full pelt around the woods on our walks.

So here's Muffy glad to have a rest after walking 5 miles, virtually uphill for the majority of the walk.

I know she doesn't look particularly happy here, but she really did like it.

Maybe it was the fact that where we had stopped for a little lunch at The Miner's Arms pub in Maeshafn, was full of dogs and she couldn't carry on socialising.

I think she liked being so high up though... which is not a usual advantage point for her with her little legs. She seemed very settled once we started to walk the return journey.

It's opened up a whole new world whilst she's recuperating from her surgery.
We'll be able to manage any mountain now... I just need to sort myself a backpack now... and someone who'd be willing to carry me!

I'm not sure I'll manage to pop back for another post before the countdown to the New Year, so I'll take this opportunity to say I wish you all the best for 2017.

Sunday, 18 December 2016

When I opened my eye (yes only one as I wasn't sure what time it was) the colour of the landscape caught my attention and I immediately had to get up to find my camera.
This is the view from my bedroom and I was going to call it
'Morning Ewe' instead of 'Morning View'!
I know... that's a terrible joke and not even worthy of a bad Dad joke status.
In fact, my hubby said he'd have been proud of that joke, which tells me just how bad it is.

You can see the reflection of the curtains and the light isn't showing up very well... but in my own defence I was hardly awake.
I then took this second photo as the sun rose higher.
There are still quite a few leaves left on the trees so there's plenty of colour especially when the low sunlight hit them.
The next morning ritual is breakfast and even though I cook eggs I never actually eat them myself.
This was my hubby's breakfast.
Poached eggs on toasted sourdough bread, with avocado and masses of freshly cracked black pepper.
My son's breakfast is the same only easy on the pepper.

Now back to the Christmas posts and preparations.
I'm linking up once again with My Sunday Photo
Have a great Sunday

Saturday, 10 December 2016

It's been a busy day which I suppose is only to be expected with the onset of the Christmas preparations.

I've dressed the tree and put up some of the decorations around the house, so I feel a little calmer that I can now actually tick off a few items on my to-do list.

We have quiet a few decorations... okay... we have boxes and boxes of decorations, so it's not a job that can be done in a day!

I'll carry on again tomorrow.

Having the daylight disappear at 3.30pm doesn't help... but there's not much I can do about that.

Every year I buy a new decoration, either for the tree or around the house.

The year we left Australia, I bought a Santa for the tree.

He is in his swimmers lounging on a float, drinking a cocktail... Christmas arrives in the heat of summer Down Under, so I felt that this Santa was very appropriate to remind us of the hot Christmases we had whilst living there.

This year I couldn't resist this snow globe.

It's quite large and incredibly heavy.

I think the bird is a red cardinal, but I like to think of him as a robin... and we often have deer come up to our garden, so I felt it very appropriate.

Now all we need is a little snow.

Just so long that if it does arrive... it disappears on Boxing Day!

This is my photo of how the day ended.

A glass of sherry and a mince pie to celebrate a busy day of festive decorating.

Friday, 2 December 2016

There's nothing quite like the song of a robin... it's something quite beautiful and enchanting.

I missed both the bird and it's song a great deal when I lived overseas.

They are such a cute bird and sound amazing, with their little bobbing movement on such spindly legs, but there is a dark side to them.

They are extremely territorial birds and will fight quite fiercely to protect their patch.

We have four robins that visit our feeding stations, that are dotted around our property, but even though there is plenty of food available... sometimes the feathers fly.

Nothing shouts 'Christmas' more than seeing a robin on the bare frosty branch of a tree, but as you can see out of my window... we're in the middle of a grey, misty, foggy day.

I can't complain because we have had a fabulous, bright, sunny week up until now.

Due to the weather being so good, I did manage to spend a few hours outside tidying the garden with a very attentive robin watching my every move.

I tried desperately to capture a photograph of him... but he's incredibly camera shy!

So I had to paint him instead.

(I took inspiration from Anna Mason over at her blog... I can highly recommend that you take a peep at her beautiful website).

I'm ashamed to say that this is the only Christmas card that I've produced so far... and that bow by the way, is only balanced on the top. It won't be appearing on the actual card... I know so tardy it's untrue.

I'm trying to get into the swing of things and have requested the boxes of decorations to be brought out of the loft... so that's a start.

I know I should have warned you and checked if you were sitting down first... but I've actually managed to finish something!

What more could be in fitting with all the festivities happening at this time of year, than to have a gorgeous poinsettia to add such a fantastic pop of colour.

I thought you might like to see it's progression and therefore show the first stages of under painting.
The wise owl is keeping an eye on my work and making sure I do a good job.

Here's the final piece with gold embellishments, although I'm not too sure that they show up very well in this photo.
Very festive huh?

Anyway that's it for today as that amazing sunlight is inspiring me to get busy.
Not sure with what just yet, but I'm sure I'll come up with something!
I'm also linking up with Sunday Sketches
But one more thing before I go...

Drum roll please...
... I have some exciting news!
I have launched a new website Denise Allanthat I'd love you to visit, because quite frankly I'd hate to be over there all alone.
'Neesie Natters' has been brilliant for the last ten years
(which quite frankly I can't believe it's been that long since I started blogging)
but I felt it was time to come into the light with my own website.
I will miss certain aspects on this page and therefore I'll run the two in conjunction initially, because quite frankly I'm really nervous about this change.
Neesie Natters previous posts are all over there along with your comments, so you'll feel at home.
I just hope it all works and I can continue to be your friend and have our chats.

About Me

Neesie Natters is where I'd like to share the things that have caught my attention and delighted me.
I've travelled the globe for 24 years but have now returned home. I'll share some of my artwork, travels, books, recipes, garden and photography which are all things that make my heart sing.
It's about following your passions and finding wonder along the way.
Welcome, I'm glad you're here.